Growing up in Greenwich Village in the 1940s, the shy and introverted only-child of a glamorous, eccentric divorcée, was a lifelong challenge and ironically the catalyst that propelled me to go on the professional stage.
“When I was five years old, I awoke, one night, from a bad dream and wandered down the long dark hall of our Charles Street apartment to the living room. As my eyes adjusted to the bright light, I could see my mother stretched out on an afghan-covered couch, posing for an artist. She was nude. Even at five I did not want a nude mommy. I wanted a mommy who wore an apron (at the very least) and was there when you came home from school. My mother was among the original single working parents. For a diffident child it was hard to be the daughter of such a flamboyant mother, growing up in the Greenwich Village of the 1940s. It was, I believe, one of the reasons that I chose to go on the stage. I suppose you could make an argument for the fact that I became what I became, because she was who she was.“
Because of my years spent in the theatre, I was able to get my mother into the Actors Home in Englewood, NJ. But her personality almost got her kicked out. “She was the only person in the history of the Actors Home,” said the institution’s director, “who got applause when she left the dining room.”
Mother Once Removed has to be one of the most moving memoirs I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Ellen Tovatt Leary is the author of Mother Once Removed and throughout her book, she shares her experiences growing up in NYC with a difficult home life. Throughout Mother Once Removed Ellen poignantly shares her story and the result is a poignant piece of literature that will charm, inform and move its readers from beginning to end and that is why this tale should not be missed!
Mother Once Removed will take the reader through the experiences of Ellen Tovatt Leary throughout her life in the 1940s and beyond. Ellen grew up in Greenwich Village in the 1940s and it is here that she spent her time between two very different households, her mothers and her fathers. Ellen’s father was a wealthy businessman but had a new young family and a difficult wife whereas Ellen’s mother was a single, hard-working mother but is described as a narcissist. The reader will follow Ellen as she recounts the story of her life and how her childhood was growing up with a narcissistic mother and how she later become her caretaker and what followed. It makes for a poignant tale that will take the reader on an impactful journey that will move and even bring peace to others who have had similar upbringings, and this book lovers is the short premise of the wonderful Ellen Tovatt Leary!
Ellen Tovatt Leary’s story is an exceptional one that will speak volumes to many readers, especially to those that have had similar experiences to Ellen. The story, although at times heartbreaking is still an inspiring one because Ellen shares her journey of how she overcome her circumstances and still excelled. That is why Ellen is a truly wonderful woman in my opinion, both for her incredible writing but also for her reasons for sharing her story with us to inform, inspire and entertain us.
The profoundness in Mother Once Removed is sensational, and many readers will feel a host of different emotions while reading this book. Ellen Tovatt Leary effortlessly inspires thoughts and feelings in her readers and compels them to read from beginning to end. I found myself reading Mother Once Removed at an alarming rate because it was captivating as well as absorbing; Ellen’s incredible literature will have you turning the pages frantically, and I adored how she was able to do this.
Mother Once Removed is an informative, well-written memoir with words that flow beautifully throughout and so I have no choice but to award this stunning book a brilliant five stars. If you are a reader who loves memoirs with poignancy, then Mother Once Removed will make the perfect read for you, so do not miss this book!
Thank you so much for reading book lovers! I appreciate it so much. Here is a preview of the book for all of you lovely readers to enjoy! Please have a read of the preview and if you find that you have loved what you have read then all you need to do is follow the links below!
Goodbye for now book lovers,
P.S. Below I have attached some links about the author and this wonderful book so if you would like to learn more about the author and the book then please have a browse. Thank you so much again for reading book lovers!
Amazon US – Amazon UK – Goodreads
